Table of Contents

This study is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA), the aging program within ICPSR. NACDA
is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Heath (NIH).

The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) provides information on health status and quality of life of the elderly aged 65 and older in 22 provinces of China in the period 1998 to 2005. The study was conducted to shed light on the determinants of healthy human longevity and oldest-old mortality. To this end, data were collected on a larger percentage of the oldest population, including centenarian and nonagenarian, than had previously been studied. The CLHLS provides information on the health, socioeconomic characteristics, fami... (more info)

The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) provides information on health status and quality of life of the elderly aged 65 and older in 22 provinces of China in the period 1998 to 2005. The study was conducted to shed light on the determinants of healthy human longevity and oldest-old mortality. To this end, data were collected on a larger percentage of the oldest population, including centenarian and nonagenarian, than had previously been studied. The CLHLS provides information on the health, socioeconomic characteristics, family, lifestyle, and demographic profile of this aged population. Data are provided on respondents' health conditions, daily functioning, self-perceptions of health status and quality of life, life satisfaction, mental attitude, and feelings about aging. Respondents were asked about their diet and nutrition, use of medical services, and drinking and smoking habits, including how long ago they quit either or both. They were also asked about their physical activities, reading habits, television viewing, and religious activities, and were tested for motor skills, memory, and visual functioning. In order to ascertain their current state of health, respondents were asked if they suffered from such health conditions as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, emphysema, asthma, tuberculosis, cataracts, glaucoma, gastric or duodenal ulcer, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, bedsores, or other chronic diseases. They were also asked if they needed assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting, or feeding, and who provided help in times of illness. Other questions focused on siblings, parents, and children, the frequency of family visits, and the distance lived from each other. Demographic items specify age, sex, ethnicity, place of birth, marital history and status, history of childbirth, living arrangements, education, main occupation before age 60, and sources of financial support.

Universe:
The most elderly population in the counties and cities of 22
provinces in China during the period 1998-2005.

Data Types:
survey data

Methodology

Sample:
All centenarians from the randomly selected counties and cities of 22 provinces in China who agreed to participate in
the study. For each centenarian, one octogenarian aged 80-89 living nearby, one nearby nonagenarian aged 90-99, and one nearby younger elder aged 65-79 of predesignated age
and sex were interviewed.

Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of
disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major
statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to
these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:

Performed consistency checks.

Standardized missing values.

Restrictions: This data collection may not be used for any purpose
other than statistical reporting and analysis. Use of these data to
learn the identity of any person or establishment is prohibited. In
preparing the data files for this collection for public archiving and
distribution, the producers have removed direct identifiers and
characteristics that might lead to identification of data subjects.
Users interested in obtaining a CD-ROM containing the 1998, 2000, and
2002 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey micro datasets need
to download the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey
restricted data use agreement form from the ICPSR Web site.